Water polo: Tauranga girls make final in Hawaii

The Tauranga Taniwha under-14 water polo team that performed so well in Hawaii. Photo / Supplied

Competing at the private school in Hawaii that former United States President Barack Obama attended was added inspiration for the Tauranga Taniwha under-14 girls' water polo team last month.

The girls attended the Hawaiian Invitational Water Polo Tournament that first began in 1968. It has an outstanding international reputation and attracted 115 teams.

Tauranga performed above expectations to go all the way through to the grand final - much to the chagrin of the cocky Australians they faced in the semifinal.

Coach Rob Lemoto said despite the Australians turning up with inflatable kangaroos, numerous Australian flags and a huge support base, Tauranga produced a huge game to win 6-1 and secure a spot in the final.

"The Australians were talking about their final against North Harbour before they had even played us in the semi. It was great for the girls to get up. They showed some real spirit."

Lemoto said the tournament was held at the largest private school in the United States.

"When the girls arrived in Hawaii we actually got to use the pool as a training venue before the tournament so the girls could get into it. The senior girls offered us a tour of the school and spoke about when Barack was there," he said.

"It was a pretty incredible experience for the girls."

Tauranga Taniwha arrived in Hawaii determined to make the most of a great development opportunity as a build-up to the national tournament later this year.

"After several months of fundraising, with big thanks to Pak'n Save and Mills Reef for their support, the tournament saw the girls playing in new surroundings, with all their games in outdoor pools and against teams from USA, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand," Lemoto said.

The girls made it through their pool rounds undefeated before winning their quarter-final against a team from California. Despite the huge amount of physicality the Americans put into the game, Tauranga came away with a big win to set up that memorable semifinal against the only Australian team in the competition, the New South Wales Devils.

Pre-tournament favourites North Harbour stood in Tauranga's way to clinch the title and they proved too strong in taking the final out 7-4.

"North Harbour are probably the strongest club at juniors in New Zealand and this was the fourth time they had been over to Hawaii as a club. They were seeded number one and we were not seeded," Lemoto said.

"It is a reflection of how much water polo is growing in New Zealand that we met North Harbour in the final.

"We are pretty confident that with a bit of extra training we will get a chance to have another crack at them at the nationals in Wellington in December."

Tauranga Taniwha team:

Ashleigh Keach, Bella Broadmore, Ellie Smith, Pearl McNeilly, Ashlee Lemoto, Lana Beck, Millie Quinn, Charlotte Narby, Nicole McLaren, Ella Rutten, Sacha Branden. Coaches: Rob Lemoto, Matt Valentine.